Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning refers to "any of various nonaqueous cleaning methods such as the removal of surface dirt by brushing, using appropriate erasers on paper, or the use of nonaqueous organic solvents on fabrics."

Translation

Language	Translation
English	dry cleaning
Chinese (Traditional)	乾式清潔
Chinese	乾洗
Dutch	stomen; gestoomd
Spanish	limpieza en seco

Discussion

Dry cleaning can involve a technique without chemicals or it involves the application of chemicals. Objects can be dry cleaned using a brush to remove soil on the surface of fabrics or an eraser, such as Draft Clean or a Design® Artgum® eraser, might be employed to remove stains from fabrics. To dry clean carpets or other similar textile types powders such as Fuller's earth or sodium bicarbonate might be employed. Magnesium carbonate is another such powder that is sometimes used to clean jewelry.

Dry cleaning techniques that involve liquid chemicals originated in France in the 18th century. Early methods relied on petroleum based chemicals to remove stains and other soils from textiles. Kerosene, gasoline, and Stoddard solvent, which is similar to turpentine, were all used in early dry cleaning. Petroleum based solutions are no longer used due to their high flammability, general toxicity, and the availability of better solutions.

Modern dry cleaning relies on more stable solvents made up of hydrocarbons or tetrachloroethylene, also known as "perc." "Perc" does have harmful side effects and legislation has called for the removal of dry cleaners that use the substance from residential buildings. Meaning that the number of "perc" dry cleaners is dwindling. The nonflammable hydrocarbon based Vaclene is another common dry cleaning solution.

All of the chemicals used during the dry cleaning process should be removed as completely as possible from the object. Vacuums and brushes can be used to remove powdered chemicals and the dry cleaning process should remove all liquid chemicals. Chemical cleaning process recommendations are expressed in GINETEX symbols on the labels inside modern garments.